Batavia Boardwalk Shops: Bringing Humanity Back to Retail
A series of conversations with the new slate of people behind everyone's favorite shopping spot in Batavia.
Hey neighbor!
For this week’s episode, I was given the opportunity to talk to each of the boardwalk shop owners in their own habitat about who they are, what motivates them, and what they hope to accomplish.
At a time when people are doing all of their shopping on Amazon without coming in contact with a person, when people are sending emails and creating “art” using AI, when people are treating people as props, inconveniences, or opponents rather than neighbors, these shops are leaning into both the human and the humane.
The boardwalk shops are open now through the end of the year every weekend. View a list of the boardwalk shops here.
ALSO THIS EPISODE: Hear part two of Batavia In Bloom, a special segment from our sponsor, Meadowcrafters. This time, I speak to Stephanie about how gardens make us feel, and how we can trade garden shame with garden pride.
You can listen below, and subscribe using whatever podcast app you’re most comfortable with. We’re available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and even YouTube, as well as our website.
-Richard
This Week on The 630:
This past week, we posted a new episode of the Batavia Insider, featuring Richard and Jennifer playing a fun guessing-game with out of context Boardwalk Shop Quotes. Plus, a brand new Batavia Favs segment from Bonnie and Jessica of Water Street Studios.
Coming up next week: An even more unfiltered conversation with Beth and Kristen of Main Street, including their most outlandish dreams for Batavia and what they think are the most blessed and cursed locations of downtown Batavia. And of course, their Batavia Favs!
P.S. Membership in the 630 is just $5! That amount gets you free access for you and a guest to our quarterly live shows, regular access to the Batavia Insider bonus podcast, the opportunity to vote for future episodes of Area Code: Batavia, and opportunities for regular meetups for 630 members. It’s a great opportunity to join a community of people who care about experiencing and encouraging belonging in Batavia.
Sign up now for just $5 to access that, and a bunch more fun content!
This week’s episode of Area Code Batavia is brought to you by 212° Construction Group.
Living in an older Batavia home often means living with the shortcuts of previous owners—like my old kitchen that couldn’t handle an air fryer and a microwave running at the same time.
If you’re ready to stop patching over problems and start building your dream space—whether it’s a dedicated home office or a full sunroom addition—212° Construction Group is the local partner you need.
Proven Quality: No shortcuts or “good enough” fixes—just high-quality work.
Batavia-Based: They know our neighborhood and our houses.
Zero Pressure: No high-pressure sales tactics, just honest expertise.
When you’re tired of “someday” and ready for “done right,” reach out to 212° Construction Group.
This week’s episode of Area Code Batavia is brought to you by Meadowcrafters.
Meet Stephanie, a Batavia neighbor who left the corporate gardening world to bring conservation horticulture to the Fox Valley.
Her company, Meadowcrafters, is a worker-owned co-op. This means the people working on your property aren’t just “checking a box”; they’re owners with genuine pride in their craft.
Whether you need full-season management or just a few hours of expert help to tackle a project you’ve been putting off, Meadowcrafters can help ensure your garden thrives while supporting our local ecosystem.
Join The 630 for $5/month to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:
Free access to our quarterly live shows.
Tune into exclusive content in our off-weeks with episodes of a bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider.”
Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.